English FA Premiership: Watford 1 - Wigan Athletic 1Nothing would be decided here, insisted Watford manager Aidy Boothroyd, but failing to beat and being generally outplayed by relegation rivals reduced to 10 men with 70 minutes remaining suggests it might have been.
Boothroyd described this match as a relegation "nine-pointer" in his programme notes, but there is nothing exaggerated about the eight points that still separate table-propping Watford from 17th-placed Wigan.
Wigan have also been getting on the wrong side of referees, and 20 minutes into the game, it happened again. Fitz Hall was sent off for a reckless tackle on Johan Cavalli after Ryan Taylor had lost the ball on the right wing.
Inevitably, Watford immediately made their advantage count. A free-kick lofted into the area found Darius Henderson who beat Wigan goalkeeper John Filan from two yards.
Paul Jewell's thoughts must have been unprintable, but his 10 men reacted superbly. Wigan were now the better team, and Caleb Folan got the better of Jay DeMerit in the air and beat Ben Foster cleverly.
Guardian Service
WATFORD: Foster, Mariappa, Mackay, DeMerit, Stewart, Smith, Mahon, Francis, Cavalli (Bouazza 46), Henderson, Kabba (Hoskins 62). Subs not used: Doyley, Bangura, Priskin. Goal: Henderson 24. Booked: Bouazza.
WIGAN ATHLETIC: Filan, Hall, Boyce, Jackson, Baines, Taylor, Landzaat, Skoko, McCulloch, Heskey, Folan (Kilbane 55). Subs not used: Nash, Camara, Valencia, Unsworth. Sent off: Hall (20). Goal: Folan 40. Booked: McCulloch.
Referee: R Styles (Hampshire).
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